"Residents of Fuzhou in China's Fujian province took part in the traditional Youshen folk ritual, known as the 'Parade of the Gods', on Thursday, marking Lunar New Year by shouldering deity statues through the streets to honour the gods, ward off evil and pray for blessings. Footage shows participants carrying heavy sculptures of deities and attendants in vibrant processions, accompanied by gongs, drums, dragon dances, lion dances and lanterns. Families light firecrackers as the parade passes, praying for loved ones' safety and prosperity. "I was really amazed by the inheritance. Every household burns incense and sets off firecrackers, and each family sends out its own members to participate," shared a visitor. A local devotee remarked, "For us, the main purpose is to pray for peace and safety. It's not meant to be a performance. To us, a deity is truly a deity – not an art piece or something to be interpreted that way." Youshen dates back more than 600 years, with some sources tracing its origins to the Song Dynasty and noting its prominence during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). It later evolved into a Spring Festival tradition in which villagers parade deities through their communities. Changle District in Fuzhou is known for its Youshen events, which run late into the night and unite nearly 20 communities in parading hundreds of deities."